Professional Development

Professional Development
The Faculty & Staff Sabbatical Program This program, funded through an endowment created by the generous gifts of Mr. and Mrs.William Van Dusen and the late Mrs. Eleanor Dutton Donnelly, supports sabbaticals for four faculty members and two staff members each year. The faculty program provides paid leave for one academic semester for return to industry, scholarly research, course development, or other worthwhile project. The staff program funds paid leave of one month. Faculty and staff members awarded sabbaticals will be eligible for up to $2500 in reimbursements for sabbatical-related expenses. *Who is eligible to apply?* Full-time faculty and staff members who have been with the college for at least five years are eligible. *How to apply.* Faculty and staff members may apply using the Sabbatical Application Form provided by the vice president of instructional & student services. The faculty member’s department chair as well as the dean of instruction and the vice president for instructional & student services must approve this application. Staff members need the approval of their supervisor, director, and vice president. Faculty Development Opportunities Sandhills Community College actively supports faculty development. For this reason, each year as much of the budget as possible is reserved for development activities. Some monies are distributed to individual departments, but most are dispersed by the Faculty Development Committee [FDC] of the Faculty Assembly. General professional development funds can be used for tuition and/or other costs related to enrollment at an academic institution, registration and travel costs for attending workshops and conferences, and other activities aimed at improving teaching and learning. Faculty members or department chairs may apply for funding support for faculty development activities by using the Faculty Development Application supplied by the office of the dean of instruction. (A copy is included in the Appendix.) Applications are processed by the dean’s office then, if appropriate, passed to the FDC for consideration and approval. The FDC handles general college professional development funds as well as NCCCS Faculty Upgrade Program (Tier A) funds. FDC funds may be used to provide activities and training opportunities for full-time or part-time college employees. When activities are approved, the signed Faculty Development Application will be returned to the faculty member who may then carry out the activity.When the activity is complete, expenses will be reimbursed following standard college policies and procedures. Staff Development Full-time members of the staff are encouraged to participate in professional development activities.Whether completing a degree (see below) or participating in local and state professional groups, staff members are assured that the college will make every effort to help defray expenses. Funds for staff development activities may come from divisional and departmental budgets, from the office of the president, from Tier A, and/or from the office of human resources. Employee Educational Achievement Employees wishing to obtain permission for college support of job-related professional development opportunities may complete the Employee Educational Achievement Proposal found in the Appendix of this manual. Prior to completion of this proposal, employees should, of course, discuss the proposal with their direct supervisors and make certain the supervisor approves and supports the plan. While not all proposals will be approved, the college welcomes submissions of these projects. Faculty & Staff Enrollment in SCC Classes Full-time college employees may register for one curriculum or extension course (excluding all-must-pay classes) each semester without payment of tuition or student fees.When employees register for classes which are conducted during normal working hours, permission must be obtained in advance from the appropriate administrator or supervisor. In cases where enrollment in a class is related directly to the employee's work, the employee's supervisor may approve that time away from the work station as part of normal working hours. Otherwise, the employee must make up the time lost from work. In cases where courses are job-related, the college’s staff development fund, pending availability of funds, will assume the cost of course materials.When funds are available, children of full-time, permanent employees who meet certain guidelines will also receive some assistance as they enroll at Sandhills Community College and in other college activities such as College for Kids. Faculty & Staff Enrollment in Non-SCC Classes The college makes every attempt to fund tuition and text costs for faculty and staff members enrolled in job-related baccalaureate or graduate programs at state institutions, budgetary constraints permitting. Employees enrolled in private institutions or distance learning programs will be reimbursed at the same rate as those enrolled in public institutions. Petitions for assistance should be first directed to the employee’s supervisor, but questions may be addressed to the executive assistant to the president in Stone Hall. [You will find the Employee Educational Achievement Proposal form at the back of this manual. Faculty members should return the completed form to the dean of instruction. Completed staff forms should be returned to the executive assistant to the president.] (Special provisions may be made for employees seeking required certifications.)

The Faculty & Staff Sabbatical Program

This program, funded through an endowment created by the generous gifts of Mr. and Mrs.William Van Dusen and the late Mrs. Eleanor Dutton Donnelly, supports sabbaticals for four faculty members and two staff members each year.

The faculty program provides paid leave for one academic semester for return to industry, scholarly research, course development, or other worthwhile project. The staff program funds paid leave of one month. Faculty and staff members awarded sabbaticals will be eligible for up to $2500 in reimbursements for sabbatical-related expenses.

Who is eligible to apply?
Full-time faculty and staff members who have been with the college for at least five years are eligible.

How to apply.
Faculty and staff members may apply using the Sabbatical Application Form provided by the vice president of instructional & student services. The faculty member’s department chair as well as the dean of instruction and the vice president for instructional & student services must approve this application. Staff members need the approval of their supervisor, director, and vice president.

Faculty Development Opportunities

Sandhills Community College actively supports faculty development. For this reason, each year as much of the budget as possible is reserved for development activities. Some monies are distributed to individual departments, but most are dispersed by the Faculty Development Committee [FDC] of the Faculty Assembly.

General professional development funds can be used for tuition and/or other costs related to enrollment at an academic institution, registration and travel costs for attending workshops and conferences, and other activities aimed at improving teaching and learning.

Faculty members or department chairs may apply for funding support for faculty development activities by using the Faculty Development Application supplied by the office of the dean of instruction. (A copy is included in the Appendix.) Applications are processed by the dean’s office then, if appropriate, passed to the FDC for consideration and approval. The FDC handles general college professional development funds as well as NCCCS Faculty Upgrade Program (Tier A) funds. FDC funds may be used to provide activities and training opportunities for full-time or part-time college employees.

When activities are approved, the signed Faculty Development Application will be returned to the faculty member who may then carry out the activity.When the activity is complete, expenses will be reimbursed following standard college policies and procedures.

Staff Development: Full-time members of the staff are encouraged to participate in professional development activities.Whether completing a degree (see below) or participating in local and state professional groups, staff members are assured that the college will make every effort to help defray expenses.
Funds for staff development activities may come from divisional and departmental budgets, from the office of the president, from Tier A, and/or from the office of human resources.

Employee Educational Achievement: Employees wishing to obtain permission for college support of job-related professional development opportunities may complete the Employee Educational Achievement Proposal found in the Appendix of this manual. Prior to completion of this proposal, employees should, of course, discuss the proposal with their direct supervisors and make certain the supervisor approves and supports the plan. While not all proposals will be approved, the college welcomes submissions of these projects.

Faculty & Staff Enrollment in SCC Classes: Full-time college employees may register for one curriculum or extension course (excluding all-must-pay classes) each semester without payment of tuition or student fees.When employees register for classes which are conducted during normal working hours, permission must be obtained in advance from the appropriate administrator or supervisor. In cases where enrollment in a class is related directly to the employee's work, the employee's supervisor may approve that time away from the work station as part of normal working hours. Otherwise, the employee must make up the time lost from work. In cases where courses are job-related, the college’s staff development fund, pending availability of funds, will assume the cost of course materials.When funds are available, children of full-time, permanent employees who meet certain guidelines will also receive some assistance as they enroll at Sandhills Community College and in other college activities such as College for Kids.

Faculty & Staff Enrollment in Non-SCC Classes

The college makes every attempt to fund tuition and text costs for faculty and staff members enrolled in job-related baccalaureate or graduate programs at state institutions, budgetary constraints permitting. Employees enrolled in private institutions or distance learning programs will be reimbursed at the same rate as those enrolled in public institutions.

Petitions for assistance should be first directed to the employee’s supervisor, but questions may be addressed to the executive assistant to the president in Stone Hall. [You will find the Employee Educational Achievement Proposal form at the back of this manual. Faculty members should return the completed form to the dean of instruction. Completed staff forms should be returned to the executive assistant to the president.]

(Special provisions may be made for employees seeking required certifications.)